Vet School 101 Veterinarians are the most resourceful...because we have to be

If you listened to the [horrible] audio on my decidedly amateur YouTube video attached to yesterday’s post on the Florida Black Bear, you may have heard me exclaim: “Veterinarians are the most resourceful...because we have to be.”

I don’t know who it was I meant to compare veterinarians with, but my off-the cuff outcry was the result of a small success in that ultimately demoralizing day. Here’s the back-story:

Dr. Don Harris (a local exotic animal veterinarian) was having a hard time passing an endotracheal tube down the bear’s deep throat. The tube, through which we intended to supply gas anesthesia, was too flexible and the bear’s epiglottis (the opening of his windpipe) was too far down his massive mug (relative to a dog’s, that is).

To solve the problem, he asked for a “stilette”--a stiff, curved guide for the floppy tube. But stilettes are not generally available for larger tubes in hospitals geared to dogs and cats. What to do with the 250-pound bear likely to wake up without gas?

Knowing this specialty hospital well, I quickly ran down a hall, snatched a white coat from a rack and re-emerged into the treatment area with one wire coat hanger...which was subsequently employed in the successful “tubing” of the bear.

Here's Dr. Harris using pliers to complete the stilette's home-made design:

I didn’t do much that day but I did play some interference with the media, I got surly with some Fish and Wildlife folks...and I found a great stilette for the endotracheal tube. It’s the little things, right? Pat pat...(the sound of a tiny back slapping moment).

Truth is, there are a million and one ways in which veterinarians have to be resourceful. After all, most surgical instruments, drugs and medical supplies are not specifically designed for animals. And animals are not always amenable to our ministrations. With that in mind, here are some common examples of veterinary ingenuity for your consideration:

Tranquilizing animals

I can’t even begin to explain how difficult the process of tranquilization can be when an animal is freaked out and/or pathologically aggressive. Because we don’t (can’t) use dart guns on smaller (owned and loved) animals, and because cages and leashes have their limitations, muzzling and/or cornering/trapping then injecting and/or gassing takes true skill and requires constant creativity.

Ask any feral cat worker--they’ll know. But when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of medical care it’s our hands on the line. Towels, poles, brooms, flashlights, leashes, gauze, grates--all applied with a minimum of force and stress for diversion and close-up “darting.” It’s challenging, to say the least.

X-rays

Believe it or not, rolls and rolls of duct tape can come in very handy in radiology. Anesthetized animals are best X-rayed with no staff exposure to radiation. That’s when we tape the animals in place with the widest, stickiest tape available. Don’t worry, cat lovers; for felines, a thinner tape is applied.

Bandages (and other avoidance measures)

This is where an animal’s wiliest instincts shine. Bandaging appendages and keeping pets away from sores, wounds and stitches is definitely more of an art than a science. It’s as much about animal behavior as it is about getting an area to heal.

Sticky 3M tapes, home-made stirrups for minimized slippage, Superglue, splints made from household supplies (such as spoons) and syringe casings, E-collars fashioned from (or reinforced with) old X-ray films, needlepoint mesh for breathability and suturability, baby clothes, boxer shorts, diapers, velcro fasteners, pipe insulation, commercial adhesive solvents...need I go on?

Instruments

In surgery, veterinarians need to come up with lots of neat tricks: human finger plates for Chihuahua bones, small crochet needles for passing suture through tiny holes, alternative uses for human-sized catheters and stainless-steel instruments, home-made hot water heating pads...I’m sure a veterinary surgeon would have lots more tips (I’ll add them later when I get a chance to speak to one).

I’ve done my best for the morning in more than 600 words...now it’s your turn...

February 10th, 2009

Add Comment34 Comments

Oh man. Not sure I wanted to read this study but I know when one is in a jam you have to do what you have to do.

Evet February 10th, 2009 10:02:27 AM

Something else the layperson has probably not thought about. In human terms we joke about "one size fits nobody". Too true in verterinary medicine. The thought of having to fit everything from a chihuahua to a great dane - and that's just one species! Kudos to the vets who always seem to somehow come up with a solution. Who cares if it's pretty, so long as it works!

robinsdogs February 10th, 2009 12:01:15 PM

Speaking of the bear, maybe the Florida Fish & Wildlife commission is feeling the sting... they sent me ANOTHER response today.

This one included a dig at your boyfriend: "The auto-response below was written by our bear management leader. Unlike the vet, he has worked with bears for many years and expects this bear to survive. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us again. FWC is looking out for the best interest of the animals and people of this state."

The auto-response that followed was the same thing from their web site, about how often bears are hit by cars and how often they find bears with signs of previous injuries who obviously did survive.

My question is, how come this VERY SAME action - i.e. refulsal to provide even minimal treatment or euthanasia for a seriously injured animal - would be a crime (punishable by a fine if not actual jail time) if done by a private person and the animal involved were a dog or cat? But it's okey-dokey because it's "just a bear"?

I wrote them back with that very same question.

Barb February 10th, 2009 12:27:00 PM

Um... that should be "refusal". Sorry, I missed that one!

Barb February 10th, 2009 12:40:41 PM

LOL, thank you. Now I don't feel so bad about some of my home solutions. Never really thought too much about this but, if I had, I would have presumed y'all had a bunch of gadgets for just about all situations. Owners definitely need to be aware of this. Seems to me this may also explain why Vets can't or won't make suggestions for some issues.

Muzzle question. Are most owners hesitant to muzzle and/or are Vets hesitant to let the owner do the muzzling?

PJBoosinger February 10th, 2009 12:51:17 PM

PJB- I'd imagine many vets are hesitant to let owners muzzle their own animals for 3 reasons. 1. Most owners have no idea how to muzzle an animal and doing it safely does require some practice. 2. Many owners are deeply offended at the very idea that their pet might need to be muzzled. 3. If an owner is bitten by their own animal at the vet, not only is the vet legally liable for the injury, the owner is then often very upset that their beloved pet 'turned' on them, despite all explainations that fear-based behavior does not mean their pet now hates them. OT- I think this should be a vet school entrance question: "How's your common sense? How good are you at making things work? Jury-rigging things?"

lindabcs February 10th, 2009 01:57:05 PM

True a sweet little Pookie Poo at home some times can become quite a "terror" at the Vet's.

Evet February 10th, 2009 04:54:22 PM

We've employed the wire-hanger approach in my clinic, too. For difficult cats, our clinic has a "clapper" (not the correct term, I'm sure) - it's two square frames covered in mesh and hinged together w/handles in such a way that you can "clap" the mesh screens around crazy kitty long enough to shoot some vaccine or Telazol in. It works wonders!

anna February 10th, 2009 05:02:04 PM

I had a constipated megacolon cat (under anesthesia for the comfort and safety of all) that I was having a H*#L of a time getting the poop out. I mean it was getting close to just having to open his belly up, cut the colon to remove it or consider the dreaded subtotal colectomy (sp? - that doesn't look right)

Anyway I found that a spay hook worked wonders for getting in there without tearing the sides of the colon but able to break through and hold onto pieces of the poop. It took a little longer but didn't have to open the belly!! The tech who cleaned packs was a bit quizzical about about why the spay hook had poop on it....I just said I was having an off day ;)

J.C. February 10th, 2009 06:06:48 PM

Never would have thought of a spay hook for poop removal. I'll have to remember that one as I have a megacolon cat. Fortunately he's been enema free for nearly a year now with meds and a food change. Two of my own cats have muzzle tags on their files that I requested be put on there. I'd rather have my pet muzzled than have to deal with my cat biting someone. Towels and thick leather gloves go a long way also as I'm lousy at scruffing a cat properly.

cl February 10th, 2009 08:45:13 PM

My favorite veterinary use for obscure household items is 'clipnosis,' or inducing cats to chill out by attaching three or so clothespins to the loose skin on their back and neck.

<p>This is common used as a method of gentle restraint in New Zealand, although I haven't seen it done in the US. I was pleasantly surprised to see it written up in an article in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery last February: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222719

cayugaduck February 11th, 2009 12:17:31 AM

"My favorite veterinary use for obscure household items is 'clipnosis,' or inducing cats to chill out by attaching three or so clothespins to the loose skin on their back and neck."

I've used this with a lot of success with my own pet cats - great for nail trims if you don't have a helper nearby.

Sarah February 11th, 2009 07:32:55 AM

caugaduck and Sarah: I definitely know it works for ferrets...no question. For most cats it does the trick, too. But human owners being what they are (sensitive!) I always have to explain why I prefer to grasp the scruff in certain situations. "Like their mother did," usually suffices. But some owners do not like it at all. I'll check out the study (thanks!) and see if it offers me any more ammunition. ;-)

Dr. Patty Khuly February 11th, 2009 08:13:58 AM

Personally, I would prefer a vet muzzle one of my dogs than be bit! None of them have ever bitten, but if they were injured, who knows? I went out and bought a muzzle for one of my rescues that snapped when being groomed. I sure as heck don't want to be bit - why would anyone imagine a vet would? I think they have enough danger in their lives!

Years ago we had a ferret that was hard to handle. She was ill and needed an oral medication. I was at my wits end until the vet showed me how to scruff her. What a relief! She hated it, but we got the meds in her AND nobody got hurt!

And my kitty just sat on my knee and purred when I squeezed ointment in his eyes. But I imagine that's fairly unusual for a cat?

robinsdogs February 11th, 2009 10:09:22 AM

lindabcs, Thanks. Pretty much what I was thinking it was on the muzzles. Of all the responsible pet websites I've seen (most on animal control websites), I don't think a single one covered the topic of muzzling (let alone other forms of restraint).

Scruffing a cat is objecitonable to some cat owners? Seriously??? Never heard of the clothes pin trick but I'll bet I try it since the scruffing wears off quickly on one of mine.

PJBoosinger February 11th, 2009 12:29:30 PM

"Clipnosis"?! That sounds like the coolest thing - I've never heard of it. Must google.

anna February 11th, 2009 12:57:09 PM

so true! they laugh at me in the human clinical lab because i sometimes think of bizarre ways to fix problems, but it's all thanks to the vet clinic. my biggest challenge there was trying to figure out how to make a "shirt" for my cockatiel when his crop was enlarged and "floppy" and needed help to shrink. [they thought he had chronic wasting disease--i think--but 5 yrs later he's healthy and medication free. if only he'd stop feeding his expensive prescription diet to the dogs!] i think cut up baby socks ended up being the most successful.

sarah February 11th, 2009 02:34:09 PM

I've been taught how to muzzle dogs with a rope or piece of cloth twice, in shelter volunteer training (rarely used) and in my pet first aid class (not used at all yet). I used to muzzle one of my dogs at the vet more out of concern for other pets in the waiting room but I figure, anything that helps the vet do their job, can't hurt. Now I do have one dog who has only recently learned things like letting me put a leash on him, being brushed, being moved over to his side of the bed...have yet to put a muzzle on him - baby steps. And he won't get in the car so I'm probably going to have a mobile vet come out. He's a big baby but when he gets anxious he panics. This article was really helpful, I think the more comfortable he is, the more the vet will be able to accomplish.

Anne February 11th, 2009 07:39:36 PM

About ten years ago a semi-feral cat was hanging around my backyard. I had no problem with that but one of my (neutered) make cats did. He wasn't the brightest (I found him after he had been hit by a car and had multiple facial fractures - I guess that car wasn't very kind to his brain, either). Anyway, the poor kitty was on Augmentin almost constantly for three or four months because he just didn't get the message that his nemesis was tougher than he was. Finally, I decided to try getting the feral cat neutered hoping that it would decrease the aggression. I got a cage and finally got him trapped one night. The following morning I took the very displeased kitty to the vet. I don't need to tell you about the growling and lunging. There was no question of getting any kind of injection into this guy without running a risk of getting ripped to shreds. The vet told me what they finally did was to put the entire trap into a large trash bag and pump anaesthetic gas into it until the cat was sedated enough to handle. LOL! Now, that's creative.

The epilogue: The feral got tested for feline immunodeficiency and leukemia (both negative), got vaccinated for everything, got neutered. I picked him up from the hospital the following day and brought him "home." The poor guy took off like a bat out of hell and I never saw him again. And my kitty had no more abscesses. (He died of FIP a few years later.)

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